ICA officers foil attempt to smuggle in 1,450 cartons of cigarettes

[chowka]

ICA officers foil attempt to smuggle in 1,450 cartons of cigarettes
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 04 June 2010 2007 hrs
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Bus used in the smuggling of duty-unpaid cigarettes. </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td class="update"></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>
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SINGAPORE : Officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) foiled an attempt to smuggle in 1,450 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes at the Tuas Checkpoint on Vesak Day last Friday.

The cigarettes were hidden in a modified floorboard of a Singapore-registered bus. Duty and GST payable on the cigarettes totalled some S$110,000.

The driver was arrested and referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.

The 59-year-old Singaporean revealed that he was recently introduced by a male associate to the job to ferry passengers between Singapore and Johor for S$50 per trip.

That day, he was contacted by the associate to pick up passengers from Johor. On arriving in Singapore, he was to wait for a call that would instruct him on where to park the bus.

Over the long Vesak weekend, ICA officers also intercepted more than 200 travellers who brought in dutiable items such as duty-unpaid cigarettes, liquor and tobacco through the Green Channel.

The officers also found knuckle dusters, night sticks, batons and pepper sprays. ICA said its officers uncover an average of 17 cases involving such security-related items each day.

- CNA/al